Welcome to China

Qingdao International Yacht Club

Sunday 28 February 12.30pm

Dear Bloggers,

One of the first things I've quickly learned about China is that it is a nightmare trying to get on t'internet. If you can get on, you then find that all the sites you want to access like my blog, Facebook etc. are all blocked because of state controls and you can't do anything. So I've had to resort to e-mailing my Dad asking him to set up the blog for me, just like at sea on the boat. Even simple things like putting credit on your mobile phone? - no can do! Dad has had to do it for me in the UK but that's what Dad's are for, isn't it? Thanks Dad, I'll pay you back sometime, lol!

Seriously, though, China is a fab place and the last few days have been manic. After crossing the finish line and having to wait over night before being allowed to enter Qingdao, everybody agreed that the celebrations had better be worth it. We weren't dissappointed! On arrival all immigration was done on the pontoon, including an infra-red thermometer to the forehead which I was slightly worried about (having been delcared too ill to be on watch for the last 24 hours) but I cleared it ok - no quarantine for me! As we walked up the pontoon there were drums playing and the boat song and loads of media were filming and talking photographs. As we went through the gate at the top the crowds were all cheering (the biggest crowd turnout we've had so far!) and a child presented each of us with a bunch of roses and said 'Welcome to Qingdao. These are for you. Follow me' in perfect English and took us by the hand onto the stage. Once we were all up there the speeches began and they took forever as they were said in Chinese and then translated to english and vice versa. We all got given a lucky tiger and a red scarf, and Skipper Pete got a special cloak with his name on and a special tiger hat! The cloak he had to wear again at prize giving, much to his embarrassment! We were then lead off for tea and cakes while the next boat arrived. We were treated like celebrities as we walked down the red carpet and people gave us their kids to have their photos taken with and everybody stares and points at my blonde hair which is as rare a real Jamaican in China! As far as I know there is only one Jamiacan in China and he's the Ambassador!

The Ambassador is a really nice guy and he was at the prize giving ceremony which was held a couple of days later. We met him in the morning on the corporate sail and he was clearly very uncomfotable being on the boat - which was quite amusing in itself - and he couldn't believe how small the space is downstairs! Luckily for him it was too foggy to go sailing! On the evening of the prizegiving there was a banquet held at the Intercontinental Hotel with all the dignitaries and special guests. We then moved to the Olympic Theatre where all the prize giving ceremonies were held for the Olympic sailing events. The ceremony was opened by crazy, long haired, violin-type, thingy players. Then the speeches began again. Between the speeches and each prize giving ceremony, there were acts from dancers, singers, kung fu fighters and, apparently, a very famous Chinese pop star! The whole thing was broadcast live on QTV so there will probably be clips on You Tube! We all had to go onto the stage to collect our pennant - Pete in his cloak - and the Jamaican Ambassador read out a letter he had received from Usain Bolt congratulating us on our 2nd place!

The ceremonies were great and, yet again, we felt like real celebrities! We're all excited for the leaving ceremony as we are promised it will be something spectacular. I've attached a few pictures of our arrival, welcome and prizegiving for you to view.

Since then, a large group of Clipper people (me included) have ventured to Beijing and the Great Wall of China. I hope to be able to write again with some more pics before we leave on Tuesday 2nd March on the race across the Pacific to San Francisco. xxx

PS. Thanks for all your messages and comments. Dad copies them all to me and I can't tell you how much they mean to me especially when I feel a bit low sometimes and think about home.

Learning to use a sextant with Charles and Dave.

Nice weather sailing

Avoiding the waves

Totally becalmed!

More pics to follow soon. xxx